Minutes a day n e w y o r k

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P R O O F R E A D I N G
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1 3 9
Get a good grammar handbook that includes practice exercises (see the Additional Resources for sug-
gestions) and review the rules of grammar and mechanics. Do you remember the pretest at the begin-
ning of the book? Note the areas that give you trouble. Work through the appropriate sections of the
book to address your weak points. If you tend to write sentence fragments, for example, spend extra
time working through the exercises on complete sentences.
Skill Building until Next Time
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1 4 1
S E C T I O N
4
Taking an 
Essay Exam
T
his fourth and final section deals with a specific essay-writing situation:
the timed essay exam. You can use most of the writing strategies you’ve
learned so far, but because your time is limited, this kind of essay requires a
unique approach. The lessons in this section will give you specific strategies for tackling
essay exams, from the crucial planning stage through the editing process.
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W
riting an essay in an exam situation, with the clock ticking, is very different from other types
of essay writing. Of course, the fundamentals of good writing don’t change (which is why Sec-
tions 1–3 apply to any type of essay). What changes is your approach. When you have just 25
minutes (SAT), 30 minutes (ACT), or an hour (many state tests, such as Regents’), you must use your time wisely.
Every minute counts.
The way to take full advantage of every minute is to prepare; gather all available information about the test
beforehand, checking the resources in the Additional Resources section of this book, as well as your exam’s web-
site. Understand the type of prompt you’ll find on the test, know how to organize your thoughts, and be able to
expand prewriting notes into paragraphs. Take timed practice exams not only to get used to the situation, but also
to identify your strengths and weaknesses. When you take a timed essay exam, preparation can mean the differ-
ence between a great score and a poor one.
L E S S O N
Preparing for 
an Essay Exam